I have always been one of those people who loves to get out into the world and talk with other people, but a few years ago, I realized that I had to do something about my smile. My teeth were yellow and unattractive, and it was really discouraging to see how much different my smile was. I knew that I needed to get my teeth fixed, so I started working with a professional dentist to make things right. Within a few short months, my smile was completely transformed, and I knew that I owed it all to my dental professional. Check out this blog for more information about working with a dentist.

Working With A Great Dentist

3 Early Warning Signs That You May Have Gum Disease

If you have noticed some slight changes to your gums, you may wonder if they are still healthy. If so, look for the following three early warning signs that you may be developing gum disease.

Blood On Your Toothbrush

Even in the early stages of gum disease, you may start noticing a small amount of blood on your toothbrush. Or, you may see a pink tinge to your saliva after spitting out your toothpaste.

When your gums become irritated, the blood flow increases to try to repair the damage. In the early stages, you may not see that your gums are swollen, but there is a slight increase in the amount of blood flowing through the capillaries.

When the increased blood flow is combined with thinning gum tissue, the small capillaries may break with the pressure of your toothbrush. This bleeding can also occur when you bite into a hard food, such as an apple or raw carrot.

Redness And Swelling Around Your Gumline

After a little while, you may start noticing that your gumline has become red and swollen. In the early stages, you may feel some soreness in the gum tissue after eating a meal or brushing your teeth. As the disease progresses, however, you may start feeling pain as the inflammation increases.

As the gums become more swollen and the tissue is damaged, the gumline will start to recede as the puffiness increases. Eventually, you may see areas on your gumline that appear white. This is because the inflamed gums can put pressure on the blood vessels, cutting off part of the circulation.

Tooth Sensitivity To Extreme Temperatures

When the gums start swelling and the gumline recedes a little, you may notice some sensitivity to extreme hot or cold foods and beverages. This sensitivity happens when the gum is no longer fully protecting the base of the teeth below the enamel.

At the base of your teeth where the enamel is thin, the nerves in your teeth are partially exposed. As the disease worsens, you may experience extreme sensitivity and pain while eating because more of the nerves are left unprotected by the receding diseased gums.

If you notice any of the above symptoms, they could mean that you are in the early stages of gum disease. If you believe you are, you may want to contact your dentist's office, like Sedation Dentistry Center, to set up an appointment so they can examine your gums and discuss with you any available options for treatment.